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Digital-to-Analog Converter Box - Selected Features

The Federal Communications Commission has prepared this Consumer Advisory on selected features in 41 digital-to-analog converter boxes that it has purchased. Converter boxes are to be used with your analog television to receive digital signals broadcast for free over-the-air to your antenna.

The features described in this advisory include features of particular interest to the disabilities community, as recommended by the Commission’s Consumer Advisory Committee.

The FCC does not endorse any particular product or product manufacturer.

CLOSED CAPTION FEATURES

Broadcasters can transmit closed captions in two formats. All captioned programs must include the basic analog-equivalent ("basic" or "608") captions. A DTV broadcaster may also include advanced digital ("advanced" or "708") captions, which can have additional features such as customizable fonts, colors, sizes and screen positions.

Most converter boxes have the ability to decode the captions themselves, meaning that the viewer could use the settings on the converter box to turn on the captions. This way the viewer would be able to use the advanced features of 708 captions.

Converter Box

Decode basic and advanced captions?*

Caption button on remote?

What does the caption button do?***

Retains caption settings when powered off?

AccessHD DTA10101D

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

AccessHD DTA10101U

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Airlink 101®ATVC101

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Alpha Digita AT2016

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Apex DT 250

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Artec T3A

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential****

Yes

Artec T3AP Pro

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential****

Yes

Artec T3A Pro

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential****

Yes

Cadence DTVC-9

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential****

Yes

Channel Master CM-7000

Basic/Adv **

Yes

Sequential****

Yes

Coship N9988T

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Digital Stream DSP7500T

Basic/Adv **

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Digital Stream DSP7700T

Basic/Adv **

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Digital Stream DTX9950

Basic/Adv **

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Dish Networks DTV Pal

Adv

Yes

Toggle

Yes

Dish Networks TR-40CRA

Adv

Yes

Toggle

Yes

GE 22729

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

GE 22730

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

GE 23333

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Goodmind DTA 1000

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Gridlink GLT-200

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Insignia NS-DXA1

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Menu Only

Insignia NS-DXA1-APT

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Menu Only

Kingbox K8V1

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Lasonic LTA-260

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Magnavox TB100 MG9

Adv

No

N/A

Yes

Magnavox TB100MW9

Adv

No

N/A

Yes

Memorex MVCB1000

Basic/Adv

Yes

Toggle

Yes

MicroGem MG2000

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Philco TB1000HH9

Adv

No

N/A

Yes

RCA DTA800B1

Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Sansonic FT-300A

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Sunkey SK-801ATSC

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Tivax STB-T9

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Venturer STB7766G1

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential****

Yes

Winegard RC-DT09

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential****

Yes

Winegard RC-DT09A

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential****

Yes

Zenith DTT901

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Menu Only

Zentech DF 2000

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Zinwell ZAT-970

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

Zinwell ZAT-970A

Basic/Adv

Yes

Sequential

Yes

*All boxes convert basic captions on the digital signal so that they can be viewed using the settings on an analog TV.

**These boxes could decode only CC1 (captions in the primary language) and CC2 (data that augments information carried in the program) basic captions. The other boxes that decode basic captions also decode CC3 (alternative program-related caption data, typically captions in a second language) and CC4 (data that augments information carried in the program).

***Menu - The CC button brings up the captions menus on the converter box.Sequential - the CC button progresses through each of the caption options in sequence.Toggle - the CC button turns the captions either on or off. Caption preferences must first be configured through the captions menus on the converter box.

****Sequential function cycles only through basic caption modes. Advanced captions can be accessed through menu only.

SECONDARY AUDIO PROGRAMMING FEATURES

Some broadcasters send additional audio channels in foreign languages and/or with a voice-over describing the movements on screen for the vision impaired. Digital television allows up to 4 audio channels to be transmitted at a time. Some of the remote controls have a button allowing easy access to the SAP feature. This button may be labeled "audio" or "SAP."

Converter Box

SAP (Channels)*

SAP button on remote?

AccessHD DTA10101D

At least one

Yes

AccessHD DTA10101U

At least one

Yes

Airlink 101®ATVC101

At least one

Yes

Alpha Digita AT2016

At least one

Yes

Apex DT 250

At least one

Yes

Artec T3A

At least one

Yes

Artec T3AP Pro

At least one

Yes

Artec T3A Pro

At least one

Yes

Cadence DTVC-9

At least one

Yes

Channel Master CM-7000

At least one

Yes

Coship N9988T

At least one

Yes

Digital Stream DSP7500T

At least one

Yes

Digital Stream DSP7700T

At least one

Yes

Digital Stream DTX9950

At least one

Yes

Dish Networks DTV Pal

One only

No

Dish Networks TR-40CRA

One only

No

GE 22729

At least one

Yes

GE 22730

At least one

Yes

GE 23333

At least one

Yes

Goodmind DTA 1000

At least one

Yes

Gridlink GLT-200

At least one

Yes

Insignia NS-DXA1

At least one

Yes

Insignia NS-DXA1-APT

At least one

Yes

Kingbox K8V1

At least one

Yes

Lasonic LTA-260

At least one

Yes

Magnavox TB100 MG9

At least one

Yes

Magnavox TB100MW9

At least one

Yes

Memorex MVCB1000

At least one

Yes

MicroGem MG2000

At least one

Yes

Philco TB1000HH9

At least one

Yes

RCA DTA800B1

One only

Yes

Sansonic FT-300A

At least one

Yes

Sunkey SK-801ATSC

At least one

Yes

Tivax STB-T9

At least one

Yes

Venturer STB7766G1

At least one

No

Winegard RC-DT09

At least one

No

Winegard RC-DT09A

At least one

No

Zenith DTT901

At least one

Yes

Zentech DF 2000

At least one

Yes

Zinwell ZAT-970

At least one

Yes

Zinwell ZAT-970A

At least one

Yes

*Refers to the number of additional audio channels that the box can access, if provided by the broadcaster.

REMOTE CONTROL FEATURES

All converter boxes have remote controls, though the features vary. Boxes that have universal remotes are able to control the power and/or volume for your television set. Some universal remotes may have the ability to control other devices such as your VCR or stereo amplifier.

Remote control buttons vary in size. Some consumers may find it more comfortable to use a remote control with larger buttons to make it easier to push one button. Other consumers may find it easier to use a remote control with smaller buttons because the overall size of the remote control is typically smaller and easier to hold.

Converter Box

Caption button on remote?

SAP button on remote?

Universal Remote?

Number Button Diameter (mm)

AccessHD DTA10101D

Yes

Yes

No

6

AccessHD DTA10101U

Yes

Yes

Yes

7

Airlink 101®ATVC101

Yes

Yes

No

6

Alpha Digita AT2016

Yes

Yes

No

6

Apex DT 250

Yes

Yes

No

6

Artec T3A

Yes

Yes

No

6

Artec T3AP Pro

Yes

Yes

No

6

Artec T3A Pro

Yes

Yes

No

6

Cadence DTVC-9

Yes

Yes

No

6

Channel Master CM-7000

Yes

Yes

No

6

Coship N9988T

Yes

Yes

No

6

Digital Stream DSP7500T

Yes

Yes

Yes

6

Digital Stream DSP7700T

Yes

Yes

Yes

6

Digital Stream DTX9950

Yes

Yes

Yes

6

Dish Networks DTV Pal

Yes

No

No

6

Dish Networks TR-40CRA

Yes

No

No

6

GE 22729

Yes

Yes

No

6

GE 22730

Yes

Yes

No

6

GE 23333

Yes

Yes

No

6

Goodmind DTA 1000

Yes

Yes

No

7

Gridlink GLT-200

Yes

Yes

No

6

Insignia NS-DXA1

Yes

Yes

No

7

Insignia NS-DXA1-APT

Yes

Yes

Yes

7

Kingbox K8V1

Yes

Yes

Yes

6

Lasonic LTA-260

Yes

Yes

No

6

Magnavox TB100 MG9

No

Yes

No

7

Magnavox TB100MW9

No

Yes

No

7

Memorex MVCB1000

Yes

Yes

No

7

MicroGem MG2000

Yes

Yes

No

8-9

Philco TB1000HH9

No

Yes

No

7

RCA DTA800B1

Yes

No

Yes

9

Sansonic FT-300A

Yes

Yes

No

6

Sunkey SK-801ATSC

Yes

Yes

No

5

Tivax STB-T9

Yes

Yes

No

6

Venturer STB7766G1

Yes

No

No

6

Winegard RC-DT09

Yes

No

No

6

Winegard RC-DT09A

Yes

No

No

6

Zenith DTT901

Yes

Yes

Yes

7

Zentech DF 2000

Yes

Yes

No

6

Zinwell ZAT-970

Yes

Yes

No

6

Zinwell ZAT-970A

Yes

Yes

No

6

ADDITIONAL/ADVANCED FEATURES

Adding Channels: All converter boxes have the ability to scan the airwaves for available channels, but not all boxes can add channels to your line-up without deleting channels. This may be important to you if you live between two cities and have to point your antenna in different directions to receive different stations. Some boxes can add channels through an update scan, which may take 5 or more minutes and will find new channels and add them to your lineup without deleting your existing lineup. A "direct" add allows you to add a channel to the lineup without scanning, but you must know the RF channel number, which is not always the same as the channel number used for marketing. Some boxes have both an update scan and a direct add function.

Analog Pass-Through: Channels in Canada and Mexico, and some low-power, "Class A," and translator stations in the U.S. will continue to broadcast analog signals for some time. A converter box with “analog pass-through” capability allows broadcast signals to pass through the converter box to be tuned by your analog TV without the need to use an “A/B switch” or a “signal splitter” and extra cable to route the analog signals around the converter box.